Am I eligible to train with Rochdale Pioneers?

All applicants must have a degree from a UK Higher Education Institute or equivalent prior to the start of the course. You will also need at least a grade C (grade 4or above) in English and Maths GCSE or equivalent. Primary applicants will also need at least a grade C (grade 4or above) in Science. Secondary applicants may be asked to enrol on Subject Knowledge Enhancement before you begin your training.

All places offered on the programme are conditional until the Professional Skills Tests are passed. The tests assess the core skills that teachers need to fulfil their professional role in schools, rather than the subject knowledge needed for teaching. This is to ensure all teachers are competent in numeracy and literacy, regardless of their specialism. More information about the skills tests can be found DfE.

A DBS Enhanced Disclosure check (previously known as a CRB check) is a compulsory requirement of any offer to study on courses where trainees may be placed in a position of trust working with children and/or vulnerable adults. The DBS Service will carry out a check to confirm whether you have any criminal convictions, cautions or reprimands registered against you and you will not be able to start your teacher or early years training until we have received confirmation of your DBS clearance.

Applicants for Initial Teacher Training will also be subject to the following checks, in addition to criminal records checks, which are designed to ensure that the process to assess suitability to teach is as rigorous as possible:

– Prohibition Order check

– Entrants to Primary ITT programmes are now also required to complete and sign the Childcare Disqualification Regulations Form.

Fitness to teach – You will be required to complete an Occupational Health Assessment to ensure that your health does not constitute a barrier to the achievement of the programme learning outcomes or eligibility to apply for registration with the professional body. This will require the completion of a health questionnaire before or during the first few weeks of your course, followed by an occupational health screening appointment if required. Travel costs to appointments (which will be within the Greater Manchester area) will not be covered by the Pioneers Partnership.

Applications

All applications are made through UCAS. There are two application windows. ‘Apply 1’ opens around October each year and candidates can apply for up to three programmes. ‘Apply 2’ will open around January. Exact dates will be posted on our website and social media accounts to help you know when to apply.

We will be looking to recruit early in the cycle so we can prepare students as early as possible for the start of the course.